The Camellia; Soil. 307 



The success of this mode of grafting depends upon the 

 after-treatment of the plants ; as soon as the stocks are all 

 grafted, they should be placed in a frame without bottom 

 heat, but in a warm part of the greenhouse, where they can 

 be shaded in the middle of the day ; the pots should be 

 placed on their sides, with the graft upwards, and should 

 not be too crowded for fear of damp. 'J 'he sashes should be 

 put on and kept closed as much as possible; if any of the 

 plants appear dry they should be taken out and watered, 

 and returned again to the frame. If the operation is properly 

 done, the scions will be perfectly united in a fortnight or 

 three weeks, when the plants may be taken out. and the top 

 of the stock headed off to within an inch or two of the graft. 

 After this, they may receive the same treatment as established 

 plants. 



Other modes of grafting are resorted to, but, having tried 

 them, we can only recommend them as novel, and more un- 

 certain than that which we have now detailed. 



Soil. 



A diversity of opinion exists among cultivators as to the 

 most suitable soil for the camellia. Formerly, peat (or heath 

 soil) and sand composed the compost in general use for the 

 plants ; and it was considered, by some cultivators, essential 

 to their health, that peat should form the principal component 

 of the soil. Even to the present day, many cultivators use 

 no other compost ; the French cultivators, in general, pot their 

 plants in peat and sand. For very young plants, it will 

 answer a good purpose ; but, as they get stronger, a soil of 

 more substance is required. 



It is to be regretted that the camellia is not better cultivated 

 than we often see it in collections, even under the care of ex- 

 perienced gardeners ; but this arises, in a great degree, from 

 the want of a suitable soil. It is important to the health 

 and vigor of camellias, that they should not only be skilfully 

 potted and judiciously watered, but that the soil should be 

 good and properly prepared. 



The compost now made use of by the best cultivators of 

 the camellia, is usually a rich yellow or hazel loam, taken 

 from the surface of an old pasture, and laid in a heap for Jdve 



